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Recovery of bodies in Turkish coal mine continues

Friday, May 16, 2014

Death toll stands at 284 but is expected to rise on Friday as recovery teams will be able to access two previously blocked galleries in the mine.

IZMIR - Recovery teams expect to reach two previously inaccessible galleries in the Soma coal mine on Friday, officials from the mine in Turkey's western province of Manisa said.

The intensity of the fire which blocked the galleries has now reduced, added officials.

The death toll from the mine explosion and fire on Tuesday rose to 284 Turkey's Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz announced early on Friday.

Turkey declared three days of national mourning, during which flags will fly at half-mast and parliament is in recess.

The exact cause of the blast has yet to be officially announced, but it is suspected that an explosion and fire followed an electrical fault. Yildiz has ruled out the possibility of firedamp or a methane gas explosion, saying most of the deaths were due to carbon monoxide poisoning.